Updates, advisories and surprises

(4:12 PM ET) CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- TiVo Inc.
TIVO, -2.16%
said that its fourth-quarter loss narrowed from the year-earlier quarter. The pioneer of digital video-recording technology reported that it lost $6.4 million, or 6 cents a share, in the latest three months, compared with a loss of $19.5 million or 20 cents a share in the prior year. Service and technology revenue rose to $58.1 million from $57 million. Analysts polled by FactSet Research were expecting a loss of 11 cents a share. In the first quarter of fiscal 2009, TiVo expects to post a net loss of $1 million to $3 million on service and technology revenue of $53 million to $55 million.

Trump Entertainment's fourth-quarter loss widens

(8:51 AM ET) NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc.'s
TRMP
fourth-quarter loss widened to $183.2 million, or $5.89 a share, from a year-earlier loss of $9.68 million, or 31 cents a share, hurt in part by asset impairment charges. The Atlantic City, N.J., gaming company said revenue fell 6.4% to $228.6 million from $244.2 million a year ago. On Tuesday, Trump Entertainment shares closed down 21 cents, or 5.4%, to $3.70.

Chico's FAS swings to fourth-quarter loss

(7:49 AM ET) NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Chico's FAS Inc.
CHS, -0.88%
said Wednesday that it swung to a fourth-quarter loss, hurt by weaker same-store sales and an aggressive markdown strategy. The Fort Myers, Fla.-based women's apparel retailer said it lost $20.5 million, or 12 cents a share, in the quarter, compared to a profit of $18.2 million, or 10 cents a share, a year earlier. Sales fell 7.9% to $409.3 million. The company forecasts negative same-store sales in the first half of the year, but sees opportunity for earnings improvement in the second half. Shares of Chico's FAS closed Tuesday at $9.87.

CORRECT: Neiman Marcus profit climbs 8% on 6% sales growth

(6:45 AM ET) LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Privately held retailer Neiman Marcus said in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission that net income rose 8% to $44.3 million in the second quarter to Jan. 26, with revenue up 6% to $1.37 billion. The firm, owned by TPG Capital and Warburg Pincus, said comparable revenue rose 3.7% during the quarter and it also said selling costs compared to revenue fell because of higher Internet revenue and lower annual incentive compensation. (Corrects quarterly information.)

Big Lots' quartely net profit slips

(6:24 AM ET) LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Big Lots, Inc.
BIG, -1.56%
said fourth-quarter net profit fell 12% to $92 million from $104.3 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose to $1.04 from 94 cents. Excluding one-time items, profit dipped 7% to $85.6 million. Wall Street analysts, on average, expected earnings of 93 cents a share, according to a survey conducted by FactSet. Sales for the quarter declined 9% to $1.41 billion. Sales at stores opened for at least two years fell 0.6%. In 2008 the retailer said it expects earnings from continuing operations in the range of $1.70 to $1.80 a share and same-store sales to rise between 1% and 2%. It sees first-quarter earnings from continuing operations of 30 cents to 35 cents a share.

K-Tron profit rises 40% to record level

(6:15 AM ET) LONDON (MarketWatch) -- K-Tron International Inc.
KTII
said Wednesday that its fourth-quarter net profit rose 40% to a record $6.3 million, or $2.18 a share, from $4.5 million, or $1.57 a share, a year ago. Revenue for the quarter rose 33% to $59.1 million. The company, which manufactures material handling equipment for utility, paper and mining industries, said growth was strongest in its process group in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Northwest Pipe 4th-period net off 6.9%, sales flat

(5:18 AM ET) TEL AVIV (MarketWatch) -- Northwest Pipe Co.,
NWPX, -3.45%
the Portland, Ore., producer of steel pipe and other products, reported fourth-quarter net income fell 6.9% on about flat sales. Earnings fell to $5.6 million, or 60 cents a share, from $6 million, or 72 cents, in the year-earlier period. Shares outstanding rose 11% to 9.3 million. Sales rose 0.7% to $98.2 million from $97.5 million. The water-transportation operations' performance stood out, President and Chief Executive Officer Brian W. Dunham said in a statement on Wednesday. Bad Midwest weather hit the tubular products group, he said. On the cost side, steel prices have risen rapidly in the past few months. The backlog is $212 million and "the market continues to look very active in 2008," he said. The second half of the year should be better than the first, he said.

(4:13 AM ET) TEL AVIV (MarketWatch) -- Frozen Food Express Industries Inc.,
FFEX
the Dallas operator of trucks carrying perishable goods, swung to a fourth-quarter net loss from net income a year earlier on 4.9% higher revenue. The loss was $3.5 million, or 21 cents a share, compared with profit of $4.3 million, or 24 cents, in the year-earlier period. Shares outstanding fell 6.6% to 16.7 million. Revenue reached $117.9 million from $112.4 million. Net of fuel surcharges, revenue was nearly flat at $96 million. For 2008, the company "has a genuine shot at a profit," as it keeps a close eye on costs, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mit Stubbs said in a statement late on Tuesday. For 2007, the company reported a loss of $7.7 million, or 45 cents a share.

Allegiant Air February load factor widened 5.5 points

(3:33 AM ET) TEL AVIV (MarketWatch) -- The Allegiant Air unit of Allegiant Travel Co.,
ALGT, -3.20%
the Las Vegas travel-services provider, reported that in February its scheduled-service load factor widened to 86.4% from 80.9%. Load factor measures the percentage of seats filled with paying passengers. The systemwide load factor, which includes contract and non-revenue flights, widened to 83.9% from 79.7%. Total traffic rose 55% in scheduled service, to 301.2 million revenue passenger miles, and 44% systemwide, to 330.4 million miles.

PartyGaming profit down 68%, CEO to leave

(2:39 AM ET) LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Online gambling firm PartyGaming(UK:PRTY)said Wednesday that its 2007 net profit fell 68% to $41.6 million due to the introduction of U.S. anti-gambling laws which forced it to stop dealing with customers in the country in late 2006. Excluding discontinued operations, the firm swung to a profit of $13.9 million from a loss of $83.4 million and revenue rose 46% to $476 million, reflecting strong growth in Europe. The firm also said that its CEO Mitch Garber doesn't intend to renew his contract when it expires on May 1, 2009 as he wants to return to North America.

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